CN107918975B

CN107918975B - Automatic vending machine

Info

Publication number: CN107918975B
Application number: CN201710919596.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 大野雄喜; 福田胜彦; 中里泰雄; 山崎康宏; 西山贵史
Original assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd; Coca Cola Co
Current assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd; Coca Cola Co
Priority date: 2016-10-07
Filing date: 2017-09-30
Publication date: 2021-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-30
Also published as: CN107918975A

Abstract

The invention provides an automatic vending machine which can alleviate the impact when commodities fall down to a commodity chute and can restrain the foam generation of beverage mixed with carbon dioxide. The commodity chute (50) is composed of a sub chute (52) positioned at a falling position of the commodity output from the commodity storage rack and a main chute (51) for sending out the commodity falling to the sub chute (52) to the commodity outlet, the sub chute (52) is formed as a movable chute which receives a force for returning the sub chute to a standby position after rising due to a coil Spring (SP), and a buffer member (90) is arranged below the sub chute (52) in the following mode: the cushion member (90) is not pressurized by the sub chute (52) when the sub chute (52) is returned to the standby position, the cushion member (90) is pressurized when the sub chute (52) is lowered against the urging force, and the impact load when the commodity falls down on the sub chute (52) is absorbed by the compression coil Spring (SP) and the cushion member (90).

Description

Automatic vending machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine including a commodity chute for delivering commodities, which are delivered from commodity storage racks provided in commodity storage chambers of a main body cabinet, to a commodity outlet port, and more particularly, to an automatic vending machine which alleviates an impact on commodities due to dropping of commodities containing beverages mixed with carbon dioxide gas to the commodity chute and suppresses foaming (foaming) of the beverages.

Background

In an automatic vending machine including a commodity storage rack called a tilt rack, the commodity storage rack includes a commodity storage passage in which a plurality of commodities are stored in a row in a horizontal posture in a front-rear direction, and a plurality of rows are arranged in a left-right direction in a commodity storage compartment of a main body cabinet. The vending machine is configured such that a commodity output device is provided at a commodity outlet of a commodity storage passage of the commodity storage rack, and commodities stored in the commodity storage passage in a horizontal posture are output one by the commodity output device. As such a vending machine, a vending machine shown in fig. 16 is known.

Fig. 16 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional vending machine. This automatic vending machine includes: a main body cabinet 1 formed as a heat-insulating casing with an open front surface; and an outer door 2 supported openably and closably on a front surface of the main body cabinet 1. The front surface of the commodity storage compartment of the main body cabinet 1 is closed by an openable and closable heat-insulating inner door 3. A plurality of commodity storage shelves 4 are arranged in the left-right direction and each commodity storage shelf 42 is provided in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and the commodity storage shelves 4 are stored in the commodity storage compartment of the main body cabinet 1. The commodity storage rack 4 includes a pair of left and right

rack side plates

41, 41 of a rectangular shape disposed along the left and right sides, and the commodity storage shelf 42 is erected on the pair of left and right

rack side plates

41, 41. The commodity storage shelf 42 is disposed so as to be inclined at a predetermined inclination such that the front side of the commodity inlet 44 is high and the rear side of the commodity outlet 45 is low. The upper space of the commodity storage shelf 42 is configured as a commodity storage passage 43 in which a plurality of commodities S are stored in a row in a horizontal posture in the front-rear direction. Further, a commodity discharge device BM for discharging and discharging the commodities S stored in the commodity storage passage 43 one by one is disposed in the vicinity of the commodity discharge port 45 of the commodity storage shelf 42.

A commodity drop path 46 is formed between the commodity discharge port 45 of each commodity storage shelf 42 and the rear surface of the commodity storage box (the back wall of the main body cabinet 1). Further, a posture control plate 47 that rotates between a protruding position protruding toward the commodity dropping passage 46 and a retracted position pushed open by the falling commodity S and retracted from the commodity dropping passage 46 is provided at the rear end of each commodity storage shelf 42. The other attitude control plates 47 than one (in the case of the drawing, the lowermost attitude control plate 47) of the plurality of attitude control plates 47 are urged by a coil spring (not shown) so as to protrude toward the commodity dropping passage 46, and have a function of correcting the attitude of the commodity S into a horizontal attitude when pushed open by the commodity S dropped from the commodity dropping passage 46 and retracted from the commodity dropping passage 46, and absorbing the dropping energy of the commodity S to reduce the dropping speed of the commodity S. A cushion pad (oil damper) 48 for braking the rotation of the lowermost position control plate 47 in the direction in which the lowermost position control plate 47 is pushed open by the commodity S falling from the commodity falling passage 46 and retreats from the commodity falling passage 46 from the state in which the lowermost position control plate 47 protrudes toward the commodity falling passage 46 is connected to the lowermost position control plate 47. Further, a cushion pad 49 that cooperates with the attitude control plate 47 to cushion the impact of the commodity S dropped from the commodity dropping path 46 is provided at a position facing the lowermost attitude control plate 47 via the commodity dropping path 46.

A commodity chute 5 is provided at the lower part of the commodity storage rack 4, which is arranged in a posture of being low in the front and high in the rear, and has a plurality of vent holes formed in the plate surface thereof. The commodity chute 5 connects the lower end of the commodity drop path 46 to the commodity outlet 2a of the outer door 2 via the inner door outlet 3a with a shutter provided in the heat-insulating inner door 3. Further, a cooling/heating unit 6 (shown by a broken line) that cools or heats the inside of the commodity storage compartment and stores the commodities S stored in the commodity storage shelves 4 in a cold state or a hot state is disposed below the commodity chute 5. The cooling/heating unit 6 is covered by a wind tunnel. A freezer condensing unit 9 (shown by a dotted line) forming a freezing cycle with the cooling unit of the cooling/heating unit 6 is disposed in the equipment room 8 at the lower portion of the main body cabinet 1. A duct (not shown) for circulating the inside air is provided on the back surface of the commodity storage (the back wall of the main body cabinet 1), extends in the vertical direction along the back wall of the main body cabinet 1, has an open suction port at the upper end, and has a lower end communicating with the air passage of the cooling/heating unit 6. The air heated or cooled by the cooling/heating unit 6 is configured to be circulated through a path of the air tunnel returning from the duct for circulating the inside air to the cooling/heating unit 6 via the suction port of the duct for circulating the inside air after the commodity S stored in the commodity storage rack 4 is raised in the interior while being heated or cooled via the plurality of ventilation holes of the commodity chute 5.

When the commodities S stored in the commodity storage shelves 4 are cooled or heated to a temperature suitable for sale, the state is set to a saleable state, and when a commodity selection button provided in the outer door 2 openably and closably attached to the front opening of the main body cabinet 1 is pressed, the commodity output device BM provided in the commodity storage passage 43 of the corresponding commodity storage shelf 42 operates, and one commodity S stored in the commodity storage passage 43 is discharged. The posture of the commodity S discharged by the commodity discharge device BM is corrected by the posture control plate 47 while the commodity S falls down from the commodity falling path 46, the falling speed is reduced, the falling speed is further reduced by the posture control plate 47 at the lowermost layer, the commodity S collides with the cushion pad 49 and is buffered, the commodity S falls down on the commodity chute 5, rolls or slides on the commodity chute 5, and the commodity S is discharged to the commodity discharge port 2a through the commodity discharge port 31 with a flapper provided in the heat insulating inner door 3 (for example, patent document 1).

In the invention disclosed in patent document 1, the lowermost posture control plate 47 is coupled to a cushion pad (oil damper) 48 that brakes the rotation in the retreat direction from the commodity-dropping passage 46, and a cushion pad 49 that cooperates with the posture control plate 47 to cushion the impact of the commodity S dropped from the commodity-dropping passage 46 is provided at a position facing the lowermost posture control plate 47 across the commodity-dropping passage 46, so that the foaming of the commodity S containing the beverage mixed with carbon dioxide is suppressed and the ejection of foam at the time of opening the lid is prevented.

As a conventional technique for buffering the impact of the commodity S when the commodity S falls onto the commodity chute 5, the following technique is known: as a conventional technique for dividing the commodity chute 5 into a fixed chute and a movable chute arranged above the fixed chute, and interposing an elastic member (coil spring) between the fixed chute and the movable chute (see, for example, patent document 2), there is also known the following technique for buffering an impact generated in the commodity when the commodity falls onto the commodity chute: a reinforcing plate is provided at a lower portion of the movable commodity chute, and a flat cushion pad is interposed between the commodity chute and the reinforcing plate (for example, patent document 3).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 9-274684

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 3555822

Patent document 3: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 6-231346

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the invention described in patent document 1, the lowermost posture control plate 47 is connected to a cushion pad (oil damper) 48, and a cushion pad 49 is provided at a position facing the lowermost posture control plate 47, so that foaming of a product containing a beverage mixed with carbon dioxide can be suppressed. However, since the attitude control plates 47 at the lowermost layer of the plurality of commodity-accommodating shelves 4 arranged in the commodity storage compartment of the main body cabinet 1 in the left-right direction each have a cushion pad (oil damper) 48, an increase in cost is inevitable. Further, the commodity S finally reaches the commodity chute 5 via the attitude control plate 47 and the cushion pad 49, and receives an impact when finally reaching the commodity chute 5, and the degree of the impact is weak, but foaming is inevitable due to the impact. The invention described in patent document 2 has the following problems: although the drop impact of the commodity can be alleviated by the elastic member (coil spring) interposed between the fixed chute and the movable chute, a predetermined stroke is required for the elastic member (coil spring) to function as a sufficient cushion, and the commodity repeatedly bounces due to the repulsive force of the elastic member (coil spring), thereby generating foaming. In the invention described in patent document 3, the flat cushion interposed between the commodity chute and the reinforcing plate can alleviate the falling impact of the commodity, but the commodity chute is provided in a form of being placed on the cushion pad, and the cushion pad is constantly pressurized by the load of the commodity chute. Therefore, there is a problem that the cushion pad changes (plastically deforms) with time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic vending machine that solves the above-described problems, and that can alleviate the impact when a commodity drops onto a commodity chute and suppress the foaming of a beverage mixed with carbon dioxide.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an automatic vending machine including, in a commodity storage compartment of a main body cabinet: a commodity storage rack which stores commodities; a commodity chute for delivering the commodity, which is delivered from the commodity storage rack, to a commodity outlet, the commodity chute comprising: a sub chute located at a position where the commodity is dropped from the commodity storage rack; a main chute for delivering the commodity falling to the sub chute to the commodity outlet, the sub chute being formed as a movable chute that receives a biasing force for returning the sub chute to a standby position after being raised, and a buffer member being disposed below the sub chute in such a manner that: the cushion member is not pressurized by the sub chute in a state where the sub chute is returned to the standby position, and is pressurized when the sub chute is lowered against the urging force.

The invention according to claim 2 is the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the urging force for returning the sub chute to the standby position is given by an elastic member provided in connection with the sub chute.

The invention according to claim 3 is the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is a cushion pad.

The invention according to claim 4 is the vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the cushion pad is formed by combining a vibration damping portion and a cushion pad portion.

The invention according to claim 5 is the vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the cushion pad is a compression coil spring for returning the sub chute to the standby position.

The invention according to claim 6 is the vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the cushion pad is a torsion coil spring for returning the sub chute to the standby position.

The invention according to claim 7 is the vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the cushion pad is an oil damper for returning the sub chute to the standby position.

The invention according to claim 8 is the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vending machine is provided with a base on which the main chute is placed.

The invention according to claim 9 is the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a guide plate having an inclined surface inclined gradually downward is provided on an upper surface of the main chute.

The invention according to claim 10 is the vending machine according to claim 9, wherein the guide plates are provided at both left and right ends of the main chute, one of the guide plates is provided at a rear end side of the main chute, and the other guide plate is provided at a front end side of the main chute.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an automatic vending machine according to claim 1, comprising, in a commodity storage compartment of a main body cabinet: a commodity storage rack which stores commodities; a commodity chute for delivering the commodity discharged from the commodity storage rack to a commodity discharge port, wherein the commodity chute comprises: a sub chute located at a position where the commodity is dropped from the commodity storage rack; a main chute for delivering the commodity dropped to the sub chute to the commodity outlet, the sub chute being formed as a movable chute that receives a biasing force for returning the sub chute to the raised standby position, and a buffer member being disposed below the sub chute in such a manner that: the shock absorbing member is not pressurized by the sub chute in a state where the sub chute is returned to the standby position, and the shock absorbing member is pressurized when the sub chute is lowered against the urging force, so that the urging force and the shock absorbing member which are applied to the sub chute when the commodity reaches the sub chute are absorbed, and the stroke from the standby position of the sub chute to the lowering is also shortened by the presence of the shock absorbing member. Further, the cushioning member disposed below the sub chute is not pressurized by the sub chute returned to the standby position, and therefore, the cushioning member is in a non-pressurized state in the sales standby state, and therefore, the effect of exhibiting the cushioning function for a long period of time is obtained.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a vending machine according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of the merchandise chute of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure of the merchandise chute of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the merchandise chute of fig. 2 as viewed from the back side.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing the structure of the merchandise chute of fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing a main part of the structure of the merchandise chute of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the merchandise chute of fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of a commercial product chute according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a main part of the merchandise chute of fig. 8 as viewed from the back side.

Fig. 10 is an exploded view showing the structure of the merchandise chute of fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the merchandise chute of fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the structure of a commercial product chute according to embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a top view of the merchandise chute of fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing an example of the discharge process of the commodity in the commodity chute of fig. 12, in which fig. 14 (a) shows the discharge process when the commodity is discharged from the left side of the sub chute, and fig. 14 (b) shows the discharge process when the commodity is discharged from the right side of the sub chute.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a state where the main chute of fig. 12 is mounted.

Fig. 16 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional vending machine.

Description of the reference numerals

1. A main body cabinet body; 4. a commodity storage rack; 6. a cooling/heating unit (cooling/heating means); 7. a pipe (straight-running stabilizing member); 10. a commodity storage shelf; 43. a commodity storage passage; 44. a commodity input port; 45. a commodity outlet; 46. a commodity falling path; BM, commodity output device; 50. 50A, 50B, a commodity chute; 55. 56, a guide plate; 59. a base; 80. 85, fixing accessories; 90. 90A, a cushion pad (cushion member); SP, compression coil spring (elastic member); SP0, torsion coil spring (elastic member); OD, oil damper (elastic member).

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a vending machine according to embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(embodiment mode 1)

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a vending machine for vending canned or polyester-bottled refreshing drink as an example of the vending machine according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the vending machine includes: a main body cabinet 1 formed as a heat-insulating casing with an open front surface; and an outer door 2 supported openably and closably on the front surface of the main body case 1 so as to close the front surface opening of the main body case 1, and the outer door 2 is provided with a commodity outlet 2 a. The main body cabinet 1 is a heat-insulating casing constructed by arranging heat-insulating panels made of urethane foam on the inner side of an outer box made of steel plate, that is, an upper wall 1a, left and right side walls 1b, a back wall 1c, and a bottom wall 1d, and a space surrounded by the heat-insulating panels arranged on the upper wall 1a, left and right side walls 1b, the back wall 1c, and the bottom wall 1d is a commodity storage room, and the lower part of the commodity storage room is an equipment room 8. The front surface of the commodity storage in the main body cabinet 1 is closed by an openable and closable heat-insulating inner door 3, and the heat-insulating inner door 3 is provided with an inner door outlet 3a having a shutter 3b pushed open by the commodity sent out from the commodity storage. A plurality of commodity storage shelves 4 having commodity storage shelf plates 10 arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction are stored in the left-right direction in the commodity storage compartment surrounded by the heat insulating panels of the main body cabinet 1. The commodity storage rack 4 includes a pair of left and right

rack side plates

41, 41 made of a rectangular flat plate-like thin steel plate, and the commodity storage shelf 10 is erected on the pair of left and right

rack side plates

41, 41.

The commodity-accommodating shelf 10 is mounted on the pair of left and right

shelf side plates

41, 41 so as to be inclined at a predetermined inclination such that the front side of the commodity-inlet 44 is high and the rear side of the commodity-outlet 45 is low. An inner space surrounded by the commodity-accommodating shelf plate 10 and the pair of right and left shelf side plates 41, or a partition member (not shown) mounted on the commodity-accommodating shelf plate 10 as necessary is divided into commodity-accommodating passages 43 for accommodating a plurality of commodities arranged in a row in a horizontal posture in the front-rear direction, and the commodity-accommodating passages 43 are formed in a plurality of vertical stages (in this embodiment, 10 commodity-accommodating passages). A commodity discharge device BM that discharges and discharges commodities S stored in the commodity storage passages 43 one by one is disposed in the vicinity of the commodity discharge port 45 of the commodity storage shelf 10, above each commodity storage passage 43, and on the lower surface of the commodity storage shelf 10 on the upper layer side in this embodiment. The commodity output device BM includes the following components and the like as is well known: a pedal member provided so as to be freely retractable with respect to the commodity storage path 43 and movable between a protruding position protruding toward the commodity storage path 43 in a state of holding the commodity S in the 1 st order of sale (the rearmost commodity, also referred to as a "sales commodity") and a retracted position retracted from the commodity storage path 43 in a state of releasing the holding of the sales commodity; a stopper member provided so as to be movable with respect to the commodity storage passage 43 between a retracted position retracted from the commodity storage passage 43 and a protruding position protruding toward the commodity storage passage 43 in a state of holding a commodity S in the 2 nd order of sales (a commodity next to the rearmost commodity, also referred to as a next commodity) to be sold next; a link mechanism that moves the pedal member and the stopper member to a projecting position and a retracted position; and a driving means (solenoid, motor) for driving the link mechanism, wherein the commodity output apparatus BM is configured such that the pedal member protrudes toward the commodity storage path 43 to hold the commodity S for sale at the time of the commodity waiting, the stopper member is in a state of retreating from the commodity storage path, and the driving means is driven based on the commodity order, and the stopper member protrudes toward the commodity storage path 43 via the link mechanism to hold the next commodity S for sale, and thereafter, the pedal member is retreated from the commodity storage path 43 to deliver the commodity S for sale. Further, in order to mount the commodity discharging device BM which discharges the commodities S stored in the uppermost commodity storage passage 43 one by one, the mechanical locking member 100 constituted by the simulated commodity storage shelf plate 10 is erected on the pair of left and right

shelf side plates

41, 41 above the uppermost commodity storage passage 43.

Further, an in-cabinet upper fan F2 is disposed at a rear end upper position of the mechanical locking capsule 100. The upper region of the rear end of the mechanical locking capsule 100 is a portion that becomes a blind spot by the mechanical locking capsule 100 being disposed at a predetermined inclination so that the rear side is lower than the front side, and the in-compartment upper fan F2 is disposed by the blind spot. The inner upper fan F2 is used to convey air inside the commodity storage container forward.

The rear ends (commodity discharge ports 45) of the commodity storage shelf plates 10 arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction in each commodity storage rack 4 are positioned on the same vertical line, and a commodity falling path 46 through which the commodity S falls is formed between the commodity discharge port 45 and the rear surface of the commodity storage box (the back wall 1c of the main body cabinet 1). A position control plate 47 is provided at the rear end of each commodity-accommodating shelf plate 10, and the position control plate 47 is rotated between a protruding position protruding toward the commodity-dropping passage 46 and a retracted position retracted from the commodity-dropping passage 46 by being pushed open by the falling commodity S. The attitude control plate 47 is biased by a coil spring, not shown, to project toward the commodity falling path 46, and the attitude control plate 47 has the following functions: when the commodity S dropped from the commodity dropping path 46 is pushed open and retracted from the commodity dropping path 46, the posture of the commodity S is corrected to the horizontal posture, and the dropping energy of the commodity S is absorbed to decrease the dropping speed. A plurality of vent holes are formed in the plate surface of the posture control plate 47.

The lower portion of the commodity storage rack 4 is provided with: a commodity chute 50 which is obliquely arranged in a posture of being low in front and high in rear in a manner of connecting a lower region of the commodity falling passage 46 and the inner door outlet 3a provided in the heat-insulating inner door 3; and a cooling/heating unit 6 that cools or heats the commodities S stored in the commodity-receiving shelves 4 to store the commodities S in a cold state or a hot state, wherein the commodity-receiving shelves 4, the commodity chute 50, and the cooling/heating unit 6 are arranged in the commodity-receiving compartment in this order from top to bottom.

The cooling/heating unit 6 is disposed in a space behind the commodity chute 50 that is disposed in an inclined manner in a low-front high-rear posture. In the cooling/heating unit 6, the evaporator 6a, the heater 6b, and the in-compartment lower fan F1 are juxtaposed in the front-rear direction in the order of the evaporator 6a, the in-compartment lower fan F1, and the heater 6b from the front side. The evaporator 6a, the lower inside fan F1, and the heater 6b are disposed in an air tunnel that surrounds and protects them, and an air tunnel 60 for spacing is provided in communication with the air tunnel of the heater 6 b. A duct 7 is provided in connection with the air tunnel 60. The duct 7 is disposed along the rear surface of the commodity storage box (the back wall 1c of the main body cabinet 1) so as to extend to a region below the commodity falling passage 46, and includes an inlet-side opening 72 (see fig. 5) facing the outlet of the air tunnel 60 and an outlet-side opening 73 (see fig. 5) communicating with a region below the commodity falling passage 46.

A refrigerator condensing unit 9 forming a refrigeration cycle with the evaporator 6a of the cooling/heating unit 6 is disposed in the equipment room 8 at the lower portion of the main body cabinet 1. The refrigerator condensation unit 9 includes a compressor 9a, a condenser 9b, an outdoor fan 9c, an expansion valve (not shown), and the like, and the condenser 9b disposed outside the commodity storage and the evaporator 6a disposed inside the commodity storage are connected by a refrigerant pipe via the expansion valve.

In addition, although not shown, a commodity display chamber in which a plurality of commodity samples corresponding to a commodity passage are displayed, a commodity selection button for designating a commodity S to be purchased, a coin slot for inserting coins as a price, and a bill slot for inserting bills as a price are disposed on the front surface of the outer door 2; parts required for automatic selling of the commodity S by the input of money, such as a coin return opening for taking out the change coin or the coin returned in accordance with the return instruction, a return lever for instructing the return of the change coin or the coin input, and the like, and a handle of a door locking mechanism for tightly locking the outer door 2 to the main body cabinet 1, and the like are provided.

Fig. 2 shows the commodity chute 50, the air tunnel 60 of the cooling/heating unit 6, and the duct 7, which are disposed at the lower portion of the commodity-accommodating shelf 4 so as to be low in the front and high in the rear. The commodity chute 50 is composed of a main chute 51 and a sub chute 52 made of a steel plate, the sub chute 52 is connected to the rear side of the main chute 51, and the front end of the sub chute 52 is disposed above the rear end of the main chute 51 in a superimposed manner.

A plurality of vent holes 51a are perforated in the plate surface of the main chute 51. A fixing portion 511 bent downward is formed at the front end of the main chute 51. The fixing portion 511 is formed with a screw through hole 511a along the front wall of the main body cabinet 1 on the plate surface thereof, and is screwed to the front wall of the main body cabinet 1. A mounting portion 512 bent downward is formed at the rear end of the main chute 51. A plurality of (3 in this embodiment) locking claws 512a (see fig. 4 and 6) protruding downward from the end edge of the attachment portion 512 are provided in the attachment portion 512 so as to be distributed in the left-right direction. These 3 locking claws 512a are inserted and locked into a plurality of slits 81 (see fig. 5 and 6) formed in the plate surface of a japanese-character く -shaped fixing metal fitting 80 screwed into the pipe 7. The sub chute 52 connected to the rear side of the main chute 51 is formed as a plate having a rectangular reaching surface 521 having a width substantially equal to the width of the main chute 51. Two

engaging projections

522a, 522a (see fig. 4 and 6) are formed so as to project from a flange 522 formed by bending downward from the rear edge of the reaching surface 521 of the sub chute 52, and the tip of the engaging projection 522a is formed as a hook. The engaging

projections

522a, 522a are clearance-fitted into the slits 82, 82 (see fig. 5 and 6) formed on the proximal end side of the fixing metal fitting 80, and hooks provided at the distal ends of the engaging

projections

522a, 522a are engaged with the peripheral edges of the slits 82, thereby providing a retaining function and a function of restricting upward movement of the sub chute 52. The sub-chute 52 is held by two right and left compression coil springs SP locked to the plate surface of the fixed metal fitting 80, and is movable in the vertical direction using

engagement projections

522a, 522a loosely fitted to the

slits

82, 82 of the fixed metal fitting 80 as guides. The sub chute 52 is movable between a standby position where it is raised above the plate surface of the main chute 51 by receiving the biasing forces of the left and right compression coil springs SP, and a lowered position where it is substantially aligned with the plate surface of the main chute 51 by contracting the compression coil springs SP and a cushion pad 90 described later by receiving the load of the commodity falling to the rear end side of the sub chute 52. In this way, the sub chute 52 is formed as a movable chute that receives a biasing force for returning to the raised standby position by compressing the coil spring SP.

A cushion pad 90 bonded to the plate surface of the fixing metal fitting 80 is disposed between the sub chute 52 and the plate surface of the fixing metal fitting 80. The cushion pad 90 is made of, for example, low-resilience foam rubber, and the cushion pad 90 constitutes the cushion member according to claim 1. The cushion pad 90 has a prismatic shape having a length and a height which are accommodated between the left and right compression coil springs SP and having a dimension from the plate surface of the fixing metal 80 to the sub chute 52 which returns to the standby position. That is, the cushion pad 90 is disposed so as not to be pressed by the sub chute 52 in the standby state. Further, although the cushion pad 90 is compressed by absorbing the impact load when the commodity falls down to the sub chute 52, since the low-rebound foam rubber slows the restoration until the commodity returns to the original shape, and therefore, the effect of suppressing the jumping of the commodity after the commodity falls is obtained.

As shown in fig. 5, the duct 7 is made of a thin steel plate having a concave cross section. An inlet-side opening 72 communicating with the outlet of the air tunnel 60 is formed near a substantially central lower portion of the front surface wall 71, and an outlet-side opening 73 is formed at an upper end. A pair of screw holes 74 are formed in 3 sets in the left-right direction on the upper side of the front surface wall 71 in the duct 7. The upper and lower paired 3 sets of screw holes 74 are screwed by screws for screwing the japanese "く" shaped fixing fittings 80. Further, two left and right openings 75 are formed near the upper end of the front surface wall 71 of the duct 7. These openings 75 are used to receive hooks at the tips of the engaging projections 512a provided on the rear edge side of the sub chute 52. The air tunnel 60 is appropriately fixed to the duct 7 so as to be aligned with the inlet side opening 72.

The fixing metal fitting 80 is formed of a sheet metal bent in the shape of japanese "く", and a screw insertion hole 83 is provided in each flange formed on the base end portion side (see fig. 5 and 6). Further, 3 slits 81 are formed near the front of the upper side plate surface of the fixing metal fitting 80, and the slits 81 have a size capable of receiving the locking claws 512a formed at the rear end of the main chute 51. Two

slits

82, 82 are formed in the base end portion of the upper plate surface of the fixing metal fitting 80. The size of the slit 82 is set to be smaller than the width of the hook formed at the tip of the engaging projection 512a, having a size larger than the plate thickness of the engaging projection 512a provided on the rear edge side of the sub chute 52 and into which the engaging projection 512a is fitted with a gap. Further, 3 claws 84 (see fig. 6) are formed concentrically on the upper side of the fixing metal fitting 80 at two left and right positions of the plate surface by cuts (japanese: cuts り and こし). The 3 claws 84 are used to lock the wound end portions of the compression coil spring SP, and the compression coil spring SP is fixed to the fixing metal fitting 80 by locking the wound end portions of the compression coil spring SP to the claws 84. The compression coil spring SP is configured to abut against the lower surface of the sub chute 52 to hold the sub chute 52, and to alleviate the impact of the commodity falling to the rear end side of the sub chute 52. The compression coil spring SP is a compression coil spring having a relatively weak biasing force to return the sub-chute 52 to the standby position after the ascent so that the commodity falling to the rear end side of the sub-chute 52 does not bounce back.

In the commodity chute 50, in the standby state, the sub-chute 52 is raised by the biasing force of the compression coil spring SP, and returns to the raised standby position in a state where the hooks at the distal ends of the two engaging projections 512a provided on the rear edge side of the sub-chute 52 are engaged with the upper edges of the two left and right openings 75 provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the front surface wall 71 of the duct 7. Also, the cushion pad 90 adhered to the fixing metal 80 is in a non-pressurized state spaced apart from the sub chute 52 returned to the standby position after the ascent.

In the vending machine having this configuration, the outer door 2 and the heat-insulating inner door 3 shown in fig. 1 are opened, and the commodity S is loaded from the commodity inlet 44 into the commodity-accommodating passage 43 defined by the commodity-accommodating shelf 10. The commodity loaded into the commodity storage path 43 first is held by the pedal member of the commodity output device BM protruding to the commodity storage path 43 to be the commodity S in the 1 st order of sales, the loaded commodity is stacked on the front side of the commodity held by the pedal member to be the commodity S in the 2 nd order of sales, and the loaded commodity S is stacked in the front of the commodity S in the 2 nd order of sales. The products S stored in the product storage shelves 4 are cooled or heated by the cooling/heating unit 6 and stored in a cold state or a hot state suitable for sale, and are brought into a saleable state (a sales standby state).

In such a sales standby state, when the commodity selection switch provided in the outer door 2 is operated, the commodity discharge device BM of the commodity storage passage 43 corresponding to the selected commodity, which is disposed on the commodity storage shelf 10 spanning the commodity storage rack 4, operates, and the commodity S in the 1 st order of sales stored in the commodity storage passage 43 is discharged to the commodity falling passage 46. The falling speed of the commodity S output to the commodity falling path 46 is reduced by the posture control plate 47, and the commodity S falls down to the arrival surface 521 of the sub chute 52 of the commodity chute 50 after the posture is corrected. When the commodity S falls onto the arrival surface 521 of the sub chute 52, the compression coil spring SP contracts and the sub chute 52 starts to descend so as to move downward from the standby position after the ascent. When the sub-chute 52 descends and comes into contact with the cushion pad 90, the cushion pad 90 contracts and absorbs the drop impact (component force in the vertical direction) of the product S together with the compression coil spring SP while allowing the sub-chute 52 to descend. The commodity S, which has been absorbed by the compression coil spring SP and the cushion pad 90 and has fallen down to the sub chute 52, rolls or slides from the sub chute 52 to the main chute 51 by the forward component force, and then pushes and opens the flap 3b provided at the inner door output port 3a of the heat-insulating inner door 3 from the main chute 51 to be fed to the commodity output port 2a of the outer door 2. After the commercial product S is transferred from the sub chute 52 to the main chute 51, the sub chute 52 is raised by the biasing force of the compression coil spring SP and returned to the standby position. Here, the compression coil spring SP is a compression coil spring having a relatively weak biasing force to return the sub chute 52 to the standby position after the rise, and the commercial product S falling down to the sub chute 52 is not bounced by the repulsive force of the compression coil spring SP, and the generation of foam in the beverage mixed with carbon dioxide can be suppressed. As shown in fig. 3, the oil damper OD may be used instead of the compression coil spring SP.

(embodiment mode 2)

Next, fig. 8 to 11 show a merchandise chute according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a structure of the merchandise chute according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a main part of the merchandise chute of fig. 8 as viewed from a rear side, fig. 10 is an exploded view showing a structure of the merchandise chute of fig. 8, and fig. 11 is a side view of the merchandise chute of fig. 8. In fig. 8 to 11, members having the same or similar functions as those in fig. 2 to 7 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The commodity chute 50A according to embodiment 2 is formed of a main chute 53 and a sub chute 54 made of steel plate, and the sub chute 54 is disposed behind the main chute 53 so as to be continuous with each other.

A plurality of vent holes 53a are perforated in the plate surface of the main chute 53. A fixing portion 531 bent downward is formed at the front end of the main chute 53. The fixing portion 531 is formed with a screw insertion hole 531a along the front wall of the main body cabinet 1 on the plate surface thereof, and is screwed to the front wall of the main body cabinet 1. A mounting portion 532 bent downward is formed at the rear end of the main chute 53. A plurality of (two in this embodiment) locking claws (not shown) similar to the locking claws 512a of the main chute 51 of embodiment 1 are provided in the mounting portion 532 so as to be distributed in the left-right direction. These two locking claws are inserted into and locked to two slits 87 formed in a front flange 86 of a fixing metal fitting 85 screwed to the pipe 7 (see fig. 10). The fixing metal fitting 85 is fixed by screwing its rear flange to the pipe 7, and is firmly supported by the pipe 7 by the left and right reinforcing members 89. A pair of left and right curled shaft insertion portions 88, 88 (see fig. 10) are formed in the upper edge of the front flange 86 of the fixing metal fitting 85 so as to extend upward at both left and right ends thereof.

The sub chute 54 connected to the rear of the main chute 53 is formed as a plate having a rectangular arrival surface 541 having a width substantially equal to the width of the main chute 53. As shown in fig. 10, a pair of left and right curled

shaft penetration portions

543, 543 are formed in the sub-chute 54 so as to extend downward from the lower edge of a flange 542 formed by bending downward the front edge of the reaching surface 541. The pair of left and right curled

shaft insertion portions

543, 543 are formed so as to be positioned between the pair of left and right curled

shaft insertion portions

88, 88 formed at the front flange 86 of the fixed metal fitting 85. The sub chute 54 is connected to the fixed metal fitting 85 so as to be swingable by inserting a pin PN (see fig. 10) between the pair of left and right curled

shaft insertion portions

543, 543 located between the pair of left and right curled

shaft insertion portions

88, 88 of the fixed metal fitting 85. A torsion coil spring SP0 (see fig. 10) is wound around the pin PN. The torsion coil spring SP0 has one end thereof engaged with the fixed fitting 85 and the other end thereof engaged with the sub chute 54, so that the urging force is applied to the sub chute 54 in a direction away from the fixed fitting 85. Therefore, the sub chute 54 is biased by the torsion coil spring SP0 to freely swing in the vertical direction about the pin PN as a fulcrum. Further, the upward swing of the sub shoot 54 is restricted by the flange 542 of the sub shoot 54 abutting against the mounting portion 532 formed by bending downward at the rear end of the main shoot 53 locked to the fixing metal fitting 85. The position where the upward swing is restricted in this way becomes the standby position after the rise of the sub chute 54. Thus, the sub chute 54 is formed as a movable chute that receives a biasing force for returning the sub chute to the raised standby position by the torsion coil spring SP 0. In the standby position after the rise of the sub chute 54, it is preferable that the arrival surface 541 of the sub chute 54 be flush with the plate surface of the main chute 53, but due to an assembly error or the like, the height of the flange 542 may be set so that the arrival surface 541 of the sub chute 54 is at a position slightly higher than the plate surface of the main chute 53 and the arrival surface 541 of the sub chute 54 is not lower than the plate surface of the main chute 53. The torsion coil spring SP0 is a torsion coil spring having a relatively weak biasing force to return the sub chute 54 to the raised standby position so that the commercial product dropped to the rear end side of the sub chute 54 does not bounce back.

A cushion pad 90A is disposed between the sub-chute 54 and the plate surface of the fixing metal fitting 85. The cushion pad 90A constitutes a cushion member described in claim 1. As shown in fig. 10, the cushion pad 90A is constituted by a combination of a rectangular-shaped vibration damping portion (rubber) 90A1 and a cushion pad portion 90A2 bonded to the fixing fitting 85. The cushion portion 90a2 has a pentagonal columnar shape in which a part of the upper surface of the prismatic shape is cut off along the sub chute 54 that is inclined to return to the standby position after the rise. The cushion pad 90A is disposed so as not to be pressed by the sub chute 54 in the standby state. The cushion portion 90a2 is made of low-resilience foam rubber.

In this way, in the commodity chute 50A, in the standby state, the sub-chute 54 is raised by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring SP0, and is returned to the standby position in a state where the flange 542 of the sub-chute 54 abuts against the mounting portion 532 formed by bending downward the rear end of the main chute 53 locked to the fixing metal fitting 85. Also, the cushion pad 90A adhered to the fixing metal 85 is in a non-pressurized state spaced apart from the sub chute 54 returned to the standby position after the rise.

The commodity chute 50A according to embodiment 2 is also arranged in such a manner that the arrival surface 541 of the sub chute 54 is positioned below the commodity dropping passage 46 (see fig. 1) as in embodiment 1, and the falling speed of the commodity S falling from the commodity dropping passage 46 is lowered by the posture control plate 47 (see fig. 1), and the commodity S falls down toward the arrival surface 541 of the sub chute 54 of the commodity chute 50A after being corrected in posture. When the commodity S falls on the arrival surface 541 of the sub chute 54, the torsion coil spring SP0 contracts and the sub chute 54 starts to descend (swing) so as to move downward from the standby position after the ascent. When the sub-chute 54 descends (swings) and comes into contact with the cushion pad 90A, the cushion pad 90A contracts to allow the sub-chute 54 to descend, and absorbs the drop impact (the component force in the vertical direction) of the commodity S together with the torsion coil spring SP 0. The commodity S, which has been absorbed by the torsion coil spring SP0 and the cushion pad 90A by the drop impact (vertical component force) that has fallen on the sub chute 54, rolls or slides from the sub chute 54 toward the main chute 53 by the forward component force, and then pushes open the flap 3b provided at the inner door output opening 3a of the insulated inner door 3 shown in fig. 1 from the main chute 53, and is then fed to the commodity outlet 2a of the outer door 2. After the commercial product S is transferred from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 53, the sub chute 54 is raised by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring SP0 and returned to the standby position. Here, the torsion coil spring SP0 is a torsion coil spring having a relatively weak biasing force to the extent of returning the sub chute 54 to the standby position after the ascent, and therefore, the commercial product S dropped onto the sub chute 54 is not bounced by the repulsive force of the torsion coil spring SP0, and the generation of foam of the beverage mixed with carbon dioxide can be suppressed. Further, since the vibration generated in the sub chute 54 due to the falling of the commercial product S is absorbed by the vibration absorbing portion (rubber) 90A1 of the cushion pad 90A, the impact sound when the commercial product S falls on the sub chute 54 can be reduced.

The sub chute 54 is not limited to being pivotally supported by the fixed metal fitting 85 so as to be freely swingable, and may be coupled to the main chute 53 via a hinge and configured to be returned to the standby position by a spring member.

(embodiment mode 3)

Next, fig. 12 to 15 show a merchandise chute according to embodiment 3 of the present invention, fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a structure of the merchandise chute according to embodiment 3 of the present invention, fig. 13 is a plan view of the merchandise chute of fig. 12, fig. 14 is a plan view showing an example of a process of outputting merchandise in the merchandise chute of fig. 12, and fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a state where the main chute of fig. 12 is attached. Embodiment 3 is different from embodiment 2 in that a base for attaching the main chute is added and a guide plate is additionally provided on the plate surface of the main chute, and the other configuration is the same as embodiment 2. Therefore, in fig. 12 to 15, members having the same or similar functions as those in fig. 8 to 11 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The commodity chute 50B according to embodiment 3 is composed of a main chute 57 and a sub chute 54 made of a steel plate, as in embodiment 2, and the sub chute 54 is disposed so as to be continuous behind the main chute 57. Two locking claws (not shown) are inserted into and locked to two slits 87 formed in a front flange 86 of a fixing metal fitting 85 screwed to the pipe 7. Here, in embodiment 3, before the main chute 57 is locked to the fixing metal fitting 85 as shown in fig. 15, a screw insertion hole 59c formed in the front flange 59a of the base 59 and a screw prepared hole (thread bottom hole) 85a formed in the front flange 86 of the fixing metal fitting 85 are screwed and fixed in advance. Thereafter, the lower flange 532a of the mounting portion 532 bent downward of the main chute 57 is placed on the upper surface of the lower flange 59b of the base 59, and in this state, is slid rearward, so that the locking claw (not shown) of the main chute 57 is inserted into and locked to the slit 59d formed in the front flange 59a of the base 59 and the two slits 87 formed in the front flange 86 of the fixing metal fitting 85. By providing the base 59 to the fixed metal fitting 85 in this manner, when the main chute 57 is attached to the fixed metal fitting 85, the attachment portion 532 (lower flange 532a) of the main chute 57 can be placed on the lower flange 59b of the base 59, and the main chute 57 can be slid rearward without supporting the weight of the main chute 57, and the locking claw (not shown) of the main chute 57 can be inserted into the slit 87, so that the attachment of the main chute 57 to the fixed metal fitting 85 is improved. In the present embodiment, the base 59 and the fixing metal fitting 85 are screwed, but the base 59 and the fixing metal fitting 85 may be fixed by welding or caulking.

As shown in fig. 12 to 15, the

guide plates

55 and 56 provided in the main chute 57 are such that the guide plate 55 is disposed on the far left side (upper left side in fig. 13) of the main chute 57 and the guide plate 56 is disposed on the front right side (lower right side in fig. 13) of the main chute 57. The

guide plates

55 and 56 are substantially triangular in shape inclined toward the center of the main chute 57 toward the front side (lower side in fig. 13 and 14), and the left end portion of the guide plate 55 and the right end portion of the guide plate 56 are attached to substantially the same end portions as the left end portion and the right end portion of the main chute 57, respectively. As shown in fig. 12 and 15, the

inclined surfaces

55a and 56a gradually incline downward from the left end of the guide plate 55 and the right end of the guide plate 56 toward the center of the main chute 57, and a plurality of

ventilation holes

55b and 56b are perforated in the plate surfaces of the

inclined surfaces

55a and 56 a.

When the commodity S is transferred from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 57, the commodity S rolling or sliding on the plate surface of the main chute 57 from the sub chute 54 abuts on both or either of the

guide plates

55 and 56 when rolling or sliding from the main chute 57 to the inner door delivery outlet 3a due to the

guide plates

55 and 56 provided in the main chute 57. Therefore, the linear rolling or sliding movement of the products S toward the inner door outlet 3a can be prevented, and therefore, the moving speed of the products S is reduced, and the generation of foam in the carbonated beverage mixed with carbon dioxide can be suppressed. Further, when the articles S roll or slide from the main chute 57 toward the inner door outlet 3a, the moving speed of the articles S is reduced, and the impact load of the articles S which are discharged into the article outlet 2a by pushing open the shutter 3b of the inner door outlet 3a is also reduced, and therefore, the sales noise is also reduced.

Fig. 14 shows an example of an output process of the product S. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the commodity chute, fig. 14 (a) is a diagram showing an output process in a case where the commodity S is output from the left side of the illustration of the sub chute 54, fig. 14 (b) is a diagram showing an output process in a case where the commodity S is output from the right side of the illustration of the sub chute 54, and black arrows in the illustration show respective output paths of the commodity S. When the commodity S is discharged from the illustrated left side of the sub chute 54 (see fig. 14 a), when the commodity S is transferred from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 57, due to the contact with the guide plates 55, 56 provided on the main chute 57, the commodity S (here, a PET commodity of 500 ml) rolling or sliding on the plate surface of the main chute 57 from the sub-chute 54 comes into contact with the guide plate 55 on the upper left in the figure, since the guide plate 55 is inclined toward the vicinity of the center, the lower end side (bottom) of the commodity S moves downward, then, the lower end side (bottom portion) of the commodity S abuts on the guide plate 56 at the lower right in the figure, the leading end side (cover side) of the product S abuts on the upper left guide plate 55 in the figure, therefore, the lower end side (bottom) of the commodity S first rolls or slides toward the inner door outlet 3a, and the shutter 3b of the inner door outlet 3a is pushed open to be discharged into the commodity outlet 2a of the outer door 2. Next, when the commodity S is discharged from the right side of the illustration of the sub chute 54 (see fig. 14 b), the commodity S is transferred from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 57, and is moved in a posture in which the tip end side (cover side) of the commodity S faces downward, and the lower end side (bottom) of the commodity S abuts against the guide plate 56 in the lower right side of the illustration, so that the moving speed of the commodity S is reduced, and the commodity S rolls or slides on the inner door discharge port 3a, and the shutter 3b of the inner door discharge port 3a is pushed open and discharged into the commodity discharge port 2a of the outer door 2. As the moving speed of the commodity S is thus reduced, the impact load of the commodity S discharged into the commodity discharge port 2a is alleviated, the generation of foaming is suppressed, and the sales noise is also reduced.

As described above, according to the vending machine of the embodiment 1 or the embodiment 2, in the vending machine including the commodity storage rack 4 in which the commodities are stored and the commodity chutes 50 and 50A for sending the commodities S output from the commodity storage rack 4 to the commodity output port 2a in the commodity storage compartment of the main body cabinet 1, the commodity chutes 50 and 50A include: sub chutes 52 and 54 located at positions where the commodities S output from the commodity-accommodating rack 4 fall; main chutes 51 and 53 that feed out the commodity S that has fallen down to the sub chutes 52 and 54 to the commodity outlet port 2a, the sub chutes 52 and 54 are formed as movable chutes that receive a force to return to the raised standby position, and the buffer members 90 and 90A are disposed below the sub chutes 52 and 54 in the following manner: the shock absorbing members 90, 90A are not pressurized by the sub chutes 52, 54 in a state where the sub chutes 52, 54 have returned to the standby position, and the shock absorbing members 90, 90A are pressurized when the sub chutes 52, 54 have descended against the urging force, so that the impact load when the commodity reaches the sub chutes 52, 54 is absorbed by the urging force applied to the sub chutes 52, 54 and the shock absorbing members 90, 90A, and further, the stroke of descending from the standby position of the sub chutes 52, 54 is shortened due to the presence of the shock absorbing members 90, 90A, and therefore, the bounce of the commodity S when the commodity returns to the standby position of the sub chutes 52, 54 can be suppressed by the urging force applied to the sub chutes 52, 54, and therefore, the occurrence of foam of the beverage mixed with carbon dioxide can be suppressed. Further, since the

cushion members

90 and 90A disposed below the

sub chutes

52 and 54 are not pressurized by the

sub chutes

52 and 54 returned to the standby position, the

cushion members

90 and 90A are in a non-pressurized state in the sales standby state, and thus, the cushion function is exhibited for a long period of time.

Further, according to the vending machine of embodiment 3, since the linear rolling or sliding movement of the products S toward the inner door outlet 3a can be prevented by the

guide plates

55 and 56 provided in the main chute 57, the moving speed of the products S is reduced, and the generation of foam in the carbonated beverage mixed with carbon dioxide can be suppressed. Further, when the articles S roll or slide from the main chute 57 toward the inner door carry-out port 3a, the moving speed of the articles S is reduced, and the impact load of the articles S carried out into the article carry-out port 2a of the outer door 2 by pushing open the shutter 3b of the inner door carry-out port 3a is alleviated, and therefore, the sales noise is also reduced.

In the above embodiments, the example in which the

cushion pads

90, 90A are bonded to the fixing

metal fittings

80, 85 has been described, but the

cushion pads

90, 90A may be disposed so as to be bonded to the lower surfaces of the

sub chutes

52, 54 in a manner spaced apart from the fixing

metal fittings

80, 85. The tilt rack has been described as the commodity storage rack 4, but the tilt rack can be applied to a vending machine including a screw-type commodity storage rack. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

Claims

1. An automatic vending machine, which is provided with a commodity storage chamber of a main body cabinet body: a commodity storage rack which stores commodities; and a commodity chute for delivering the commodity from the commodity storage rack to a commodity outlet, the vending machine being characterized in that,

the commodity chute is provided with:

a movable auxiliary chute located at a falling position of the commodity output from the commodity storage rack;

a main chute for delivering the commodity dropped to the sub chute to a commodity outlet;

an elastic member that applies an urging force from below the sub chute to return the sub chute to a standby position after the sub chute has been raised; and

and a cushion member that is positioned below the sub chute, is not pressurized by the sub chute in a state where the sub chute is returned to the standby position, and contracts in a pressurized state when the sub chute is lowered against a biasing force applied by the elastic member.

2. The vending machine of claim 1,

the cushioning member is a cushion pad.

3. The vending machine of claim 2,

the cushion pad is composed of a combination of a vibration damping portion and a cushion pad portion.

4. The vending machine of claim 1,

the elastic member is a compression coil spring that returns the sub chute to the standby position.

5. The vending machine of claim 1,

the elastic member is a torsion coil spring that returns the sub chute to the standby position.

6. The vending machine of claim 1,

the elastic member is an oil damper that returns the sub-chute to the standby position.

7. The vending machine of claim 1,

the vending machine is provided with a base on which a main chute is placed.

8. The vending machine of claim 1,

a guide plate having an inclined surface inclined gradually downward is provided on the upper surface of the main chute.

9. The vending machine of claim 8,

the guide plates are provided at both left and right ends of the main chute, and one of the guide plates is provided at a rear end side of the main chute, and the other guide plate is provided at a front end side of the main chute.